Needle bearings especially for universal joints

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a roller bearing having an outer race for mounting in a shaft, housing or similar bore and having an external recess or groove at one end of the bearing race to receive an annular washer or equivalent clip extending radially beyond the race, the clip acting to limit displacement of the bearing in one axial direction in the bore.

PATENTEU .umarmen 3,559,143

SHEET 1 nr 2 16/ I V 2'/ l 26 mvENToR; ROBERT 5. BRTT @59%. v LeifCHTRNEYS PATENIEnJuNeemn 3,599,143

SHEET 2 0F 2 INVENTOR ROBERT S. BATT ATTORNEY NEEDLE BEARINGS ESPECIALLYFOR UNIVERSAL .IOINTS This invention concerns rolling bearings andrelates more particularly to needle bearings for use in applicationssuch as universaljoints.

One problem sometimes encountered in the fabrication of universal jointsis axial displacement ofthe bearings out of the two halves of the jointdue to thrust between the joint halves generally resulting fromunbalance in the joint.

The invention seeks to provide a bearing construction which in a simplemanner will prevent displacement of the bearing from such causes.

According to the present invention, in a bearing comprising an outerbearing race containing a plurality of bearing rollers, one end of thebearing race is formed externally with a radially inwardly directedrecess arrangement adapted to receive a circular clip, washer orequivalent member for defining a radial flange around said race.

The recess may be circumferentially continuous or it may consist of aseries of circularly spaced indentations cach adapted for engagement byan internal tooth of a star washer.

Preferably the recess is a groove circumscribing the end region of therace and, for example in a bearing race which itself is deep drawn orpressed from sheet metal, is most conveniently defined by forming adouble fold at the end region of the racc, that is to say, by formingsaid end region with an axi ally outermost and radially directed foldslightly axially spaced from an adjacent, radially inwardly directedfold.

In the use of the bearing proposed by the invention, the bearing havingbeen inserted in a bore in a housing member intended to receive it, aclip or washer may then be engaged in the recess arrangement toconstitute a radial flange external to the race and thereafterpreventing the bearing from being withdrawn from the bore.

The invention will be described further, by way ofexample, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, partly in section of a universal jointincorporating bearings embodying the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional detail illustrating a modification of theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view with a portion cut away showing anothermodification of the invention; A

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

The universal joint shown in FIG. l comprises a central block which isbored to receive mutually perpendicular shafts, of which one shaft l2 isvisible in the drawing. Opposite ends ofthe shaft 12 are received inapertures 16 or arms I8 of a fork member and a needle bearing generallydesignated 22 is interposed between each shaft end and the arm 18 in4which it is housed. A second fork member 24 is connected to the centralblock 10 in a similar manner.

The needle bearings 22 each include a plurality of needle rollers 26located within a cylindrical outer race 28 which is deep drawn fromsheet metal'in the form of a cup having a closed outer end 30. For thepurpose of preventing axial movement of the rollers sufficient to enablethem to fall out of the race 28, the opposite end of the latter isformed with a radially inwardly directed lip or flange 32.

Spaced slightly axially outwardly of the lip 32, the bearing race 28 isthen formed, for example by a rolling operation with a second andradially outwardly directed lip 34 which cooperates with the lip 32 todefine a recess 36 externally circumscribing the bearing race end. Thisrecess 36 provides a seating for a circlip 38 which, when the bearing 22is positioned on the shaft 12 is intended to engage behind the arm 18LII of fork member 20 in order to prevent displacement of the bearing inthe event that thrust forces should arise. As illustrated, the bearingmay be sealed by an O-ring 40 interposed between the lip 34 and thecenter block 10.

In the alternative embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, thesimple circlip is replaced by an annular washer, preferably of aplastics material such as nylon or polytetrafluoroethylene which has aradial portion 42 for seating in the groove 36 and a substantial axialportion 44 of a depth sufficient to bear against the center block l0 forthe purpose both of acting as a thrust washer and also of sealing thebearing against the entry of foreign matter.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 indentations 37 in the outerrace replace the groove 36, and the simple circlip 38 is replaced by astar washer 42 having inward projections that fit in the indentationswhich are spaced closely enough to prevent loss of rollers prior toassembly of the bearing on the shaft.

I claim:

l. ln a bearing comprising an outer bearing race containing a pluralityof bearing rollers, the improvement wherein one end of the bearing raceis formed externally with a radially inwardly directed recessarrangement to prevent axial movement of the bearing rollers sufficientto fall out of the bearing race, and wherein an annular washer memberfor defining a radial flange around said race is received within saidrecess arrangement.

2. A bearing as set forth in claim l, wherein the recess iscircumferentially continuous.

3. A bearing as set forth in claim l, wherein the recess consists of aseries of circularly spaced indentations formed in the race and eachadapted for engagement by an internal tooth of a star washer.

4. A bearing as set forth in claim ll wherein the recess is a groovecircumscribing the end region of the race.

5. A bearing as set forth in claim. 1, wherein the washer membercomprises a radial portion engaged in said recess and an axial portiondepending from the radially outer region of said radial portion, saidaxial portion having an axial length substantially greater than theaxial thickness of the radial portion.

6. A bearing as set forth in claim 4, wherein the bearing race is deepdrawn from sheet metal and the groove is defined by forming a doublefold at the end region of the race, said fold comprising an axiallyoutermost and radially directed portion of said end region which isslightly axially spaced from an adjacent and radially inwardly directedrace end portion.

7. A universal joint comprising a central block wherein are mounted apair of mutually perpendicular shafts, said block and said shaftstogether constituting a cruciform member, a pair of fork members eachhaving apertured arms by means of which a respective fork member isengaged with one of said shafts and a roller bearing interposed betweeneach arm and the shaft portion which it engages, said bearing comprisingan outer race, a plurality of rollers contained in said outer race, oneend of said race being formed externally with a radially inwardlydirected recess to prevent axial movement of the bearing rollerssufficient to fall out of the bearing race, and an annular washerreceived within said recess for defining a radial flange around saidrace.

8. A universal joint as set forth in claim 7, wherein a sealing ring isinterposed between the center block and the adjacent end of each bearingrace.

9. A universal joint as set forth in claim 7, wherein the axiallyextending portion of each washer member bears against the center blockto constitute both a thrust washer and a seal.

1. In a bearing comprising an outer bearing race containing a pluralityof bearing rollers, the improvement wherein one end of the bearing raceis formed externally with a radially inwardly directed recessarrangement to prevent axial movement of the bearing rollers sufficientto fall out of the bearing race, and wherein an annular washer memberfor defining a radial flange around said race is received within saidrecess arrangement.
 2. A bearing as set forth in claim 1, wherein therecess is circumferentially continuous.
 3. A bearing as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the recess consists of a series of circularly spacedindentations formed in the race and each adapted for engagement by aninternal tooth of a star washer.
 4. A bearing as set forth in claim 1wherein the recess is a groove circumscribing the end region of therace.
 5. A bearing as set forth in claim 1, wherein the washer membercomprises a radial portion engaged in said recess and an axial portiondepending from the radially outer region of said radial portion, saidaxial portion having an axial length substantially greater than theaxial thickness of the radial portion.
 6. A bearing as set forth inclaim 4, wherein the bearing race is deep drawn from sheet metal and thegroove is defined by forming a double fold at the end region of therace, said fold comprising an axially outermost and radially directedportion of said end region which is slightly axially spaced from anadjacent and radially inwardly directed race end portion.
 7. A universaljoint comprising a central block wherein are mounted a pair of mutuallyperpendicular shafts, said block and said shafts together constituting acruciform member, a pair of fork members each having apertured arms bymeans of which a respective fork member is engaged with one of saidshafts and a roller bearing interposed between each arm and the shaftportion which it engages, said bearing comprising an outer race, aplurality of rollers contained in said outer race, one end of said racebeing formed externally with a radially inwardly directed recess toprevent axial movement of the bearing rollers sufficient to fall out ofthe bearing race, and an annular washer received within said recess fordefining a radial flange around said race.
 8. A universal joint as setforth in claim 7, wherein a sealing ring is interposed between thecenter block and the adjacent end of each bearing race.
 9. A universaljoint as set forth in claim 7, wherein the axially exteNding portion ofeach washer member bears against the center block to constitute both athrust washer and a seal.